Automatic drain float



Feb. 21, 1939. J. J TOKHE|M AUTOMATIC DRAIN FLOAT Filed June 19, 1937zg@ e f ff ZIJ Patented Feb. 21, 1939 PATE oFFu-:E

AUTOMATIC DRAIN FLQAKLII JohnJ; Tokheim,

Application J une- 19;

2` Claims.

rLhis inventionirelates to oats for-useY in liquid storage tanks, steamboilers andl the like to riseandif-'all with# changes in the level; ofthe liquid therein and? toi` act-nate' a liquid level y indicator orafliquidi supplyv control valve I or, infact, toactuate any means to beoperated responsive to-rise or fall-y off liquidi in a tank, boiler orthe like, and has particular reference to a float for use in either highpressure or sub-atmospheric pressure liquid tanks or boilers which mayor may not be subjected to temperature changes.

For a float to be accurate in operation it is necessary that itsbuoyancy remain constant, and in order to maintain its buoyancy constantit is necessary that it be subjected to the same pressure interiorly asexteriorly, which means that it cannot be completely close-d or sealed,but must have an opening for equalization of pressure between itsinterior and its exterior. If, however, a float is provided with anopening for equalization of pressure between its interior and itsexterior, and if it is used in a steam chamber or a tank containingvapors, condensation of the steam or vapors results in liquid collectingin the float with consequent change in its buoyancy and impairment ofits accuracy, unless the condensate is substantially constantlyevacuated therefrom.

Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is to provide afloat having an opening for equalization of pressure between itsinterior and its exterior and which includes means, operable responsiveto changes in pressure between its interior and its exterior, to effectevacuation of condensate therefrom, whereby it is maintainedsubstantially free of condensate and of substantially constant buoyancy.

In order that the present float may not corrode or deteriorate itpreferably is formed from glass, and in this connection a special objectof the invention is.to provide novel means for the connection therewithin a firm, strong manner not only the means for evacuating the same ofcondensate, but also a liquid level indicating tape, a liquid supplycontrol valve or whatever other device is to be actuated by the lloat.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morefully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing and dened in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a float con- Cedar Rapids, Iowa1937; SerialrNo. 149,214.

(Cl- 13j-40.49,

structedl in accordance with one practical embodiment or the invention;and

Fig. 2=is a sectionA at right angles to-Fig. 1V. Referring tothe drawingin detail, I desig-` nates the present float body which, ofcourse, is`hollow and4 which may: beformed from any4v suitableA material into anyvdesired size and shape, although, as aforesaid, it preferably is formedfrom glass and preferablyisoff'iiattenedfspherical shape as shown. Also,as shown, the body I0 is completely closed except for a top openingtherein of relatively large size designated as II.

Covering the opening Il is -a preferably metallic cap I2 whichmarginally seats upon a gasket I3 disposed upon the upper face of thetop wall of the body Ill in surrounding relationship to said opening I Iand which may be drawn air-tightly against said gasket in any desiredmanner. As illustrated in the present instance, a bar I4 is disposedinteriorly of the body I0 in spanning relationship to the opening II andis seated at its ends against the under face of the top wall of saidbody I0 and at its under side has seated thereagainst a nut I5 in whichis threaded the lower end of a bolt I6 which passes loosely through anopening in the cap I Il. Accordingly, by tightening the bolt I6 the capI2 is drawn into air-tight engagement with the body I 0 and a strongconnection is effected between said cap and said body so that there isan equally strong connection between said body and any means to beactuated by the same which may be connected therewith through said capand its securing means.

The bar I4 preferably is provided with depending side flanges I1 orequivalent means for cooperation with the nut I5 to hold the sameagainst rotation, and the bolt I6, directly below. its head I8,preferably is downwardly tapered as indicated at I9, for cooperationwith a correspondingly tapered top portion of the opening in the cap I2through which said bolt extends, to provide an air-tight seat aroundsaid bolt when the latter is tightened.

The means to be actuated by the body Illtmay be connected with thesecuring means for the cap I2 in any suitable manner. As illustrated inthe present instance, the said means to be actuated by said body IIlcomprises a liquid level indicating tape 20 having its lower end portionclamped between the ends of a metal yoke 2| the intermediate portion ofwhich is clamped between the head of the bolt I6 and the top face of thecap I2.

A small tube 22 is threaded at its upper end into the cap I2, orotherwise is suitably connected at its upper end with said cap, andextends downwardly from said cap through the opening I I into the body Iand has its lower end spaced from, but disposed closely adjacent to, thebottom of the body I0. At its upper end said tube 22 is in communicationwith an inner end portion of a small horizontal opening 23 which isformed in the cap I2 and which opens through one side thereof. Thus,provision is made for equalization of pressure between the interior andthe exterior of the body I0 so that regardless of variations in pressureexteriorly of said body I0, the buoyancy of said body will remainconstant insofar as concerns variations in pressure exteriorly of saidbody. At the same time, provision is made for evacuating the body I0 ofsubstantially all condensate which may collect therein, for thecollection of only a small amount of condensate within the body I0 willsuiiice to cover the lower end of the tube 22 and when this conditionexists any slight drop in pressure exteriorly of the body I0 will resultin the higher pressure within said body forcing the condensate from saidbody through the tube 22 and the opening 23. In this connection it isapparent that, due to the horizontal disposition of the opening 23,condensate or other matter is prevented from gravitating directlydownwardly into the tube 2|.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A float comprising a hollow glass body having a top opening, a capcovering said opening and seated on the top of said body, a bar withinsaid body spanning said opening and seated against the under side of thetop of said body, means extending between said bar and said cap forclamping said cap to said body, means to be actuated by said bodyconnected therewith by said first mentioned means, and a tube carried bysaid cap and depending therefrom to a point closely adjacent to thebottom of said body. and pro- Viding communication between the interiorand the exterior of said body.

2. A float as set forth in claim l including means protectively coveringthe upper end of the Vent tube to prevent direct downward ow of moistureinto said tube.

JOHN J. TOKHEIM.

